Aiken Land Conservancy

08/28/2026

Do you remember what it was like to be outside as a kid? Laughing, playing, running through the yard, looking for fireflies, or stopping to investigate a bug you’d never seen before.

Attendees of our first Stewardship Shelf book club sure do. Those childhood memories, and the sense of wonder and curiosity that comes with spending time outside, were just some of the lighthearted and meaningful conversations that came up during our discussion.

While enjoying coffee and pastries provided by The Parlour Coffee & Company, we discussed this month’s book, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. One thing that stood out in the conversation was how our experiences in nature can become a core part of our memories and even our sense of home. That sense of wonder and curiosity doesn't have to end with childhood, we can still find it as adults if we spend time in nature.

Did you miss our first Stewardship Shelf meeting? Don’t worry! You can join us for the next one on Saturday, October 10. Keep an eye on our events page for more details.

What’s one of your favorite memories of spending time outside as a kid?

08/27/2026

Conservation is for the birds 🐦

When we conserve land, we’re protecting much more than trees, fields, and open space. We’re protecting habitat for the birds and wildlife that depend on these places.

Prescribed fire, careful forest management, and even artificial nesting cavities for the red-cockaded woodpecker are all part of the work of restoring healthy longleaf habitat.

That’s one of the many reasons land conservation matters; when we protect the land, we protect the wildlife that calls it home.

08/25/2026

🌿 Explore Aiken's protected lands in a whole new way!

Aiken Land Conservancy's new interactive StoryMap makes it easy to explore the public properties we help protect, learn more about these special places, and see where you can go to enjoy the outdoors.

From forests and trails to ponds and open spaces, each property has its own story to tell.

🗺️ Start exploring: https://arc

The StoryMap was created by Patti Bennett, an ALC volunteer. ALC is grateful to have amazing volunteers like Patti who share their talents with us!

Explore Some of the Places You Love

08/20/2026

If you're a conservation enthusiast like us, tune in to SC Public Radio weekdays at 𝟓:𝟒𝟐 𝐚.𝐦., 𝟕:𝟒𝟐 𝐚.𝐦., or 𝟏𝟐:𝟒𝟐 𝐩.𝐦. for a one-minute segment of 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒅!

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Director 𝐃𝐫. 𝐓𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐧 takes a closer look at the natural wonders around us and the people working to protect them.

One recent segment highlights the important role of prescribed fire in maintaining healthy forests and wildlife habitat, a topic that hits close to home for those of us working to conserve and care for South Carolina's special places. 🔥

𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒅 is also available on demand wherever you listen to podcasts.

The story of South Carolina can be found in its rivers, forests, wetlands, and wildlife. Join Dr. Tom Mullikin, director of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, on Into the Wild for a closer look at the natural wonders around us and the people working to preserve them.

08/19/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭, 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐯𝐞.

Not sure if that coo-AHH, cooo, coo, cooo you hear is an owl or a mourning dove? Next time you hear it, try using Merlin Bird ID, Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s free bird identification app, to listen and find out what’s singing nearby.

Protecting the open spaces, fields, and woodland edges they call home helps ensure these familiar birds remain part of our landscape.

This beautiful photograph was taken by Phil Jones.

08/11/2026

Aiken Land Conservancy is excited to celebrate the protection of Shealy Farms, a 60-acre property now conserved through a conservation easement with landowners Paul and Ginger Shealy.

The Shealys connected with ALC through neighboring landowners at Mayadinya-in-the-Pines, a conservation easement completed last November.

The property includes 20 acres of open pasture that provide valuable habitat for declining grassland birds, including Eastern meadowlarks, loggerhead shrikes, and Southeastern American kestrels. The remaining 40 acres contain remnant longleaf pine sandhill habitat, all of which is designated as a Special Natural Area (SNA), affording it heightened protection because of its significant ecological value. This area supports longleaf pines of varying ages, large turkey oaks, and sandhill rosemary, a fire-dependent shrub listed as state-threatened in South Carolina and rarely observed in Aiken County. These sandy soils also serve as aquifer recharge areas, benefitting Aiken County's groundwater supply.

This conservation easement helps ensure this special place remains protected for future generations. This project was supported by a $60,000 funding award from the SC Conservation Bank, and we appreciate their continued support of the landowners we partner with.

We are grateful to Paul and Ginger for their commitment to conserving open space and protecting the natural landscapes that define our region.

08/04/2026

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐟 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫?💧🌲

Longleaf pine ecosystems do more than provide habitat for wildlife. When they're well managed, they help filter water, improve groundwater recharge, and support healthy watersheds.

It's another reason restoring longleaf forests benefits both people and nature.

Southeastern Partnership for Forests & Water, The Longleaf Alliance, and the Healthy Watersheds Consortium have developed a great fact sheet, Longleaf Pine - A Tall Drink of Water, to help you learn more.

https://www.americaslongleaf.org/media/ejqplgyd/longleaf-pine-a-tall-drink-of-water-final.pdf

At Aiken Land Conservancy, we know that land conservation is about more than protecting open spaces, it’s about protecting the natural resources that sustain our communities.